TO IMPROVE VISITOR USE MANAGEMENT ON PUBLIC LANDS

WORKING ACROSS AGENCY LINES

WORKING ACROSS AGENCY LINES

PRESENTATION OVERVIEW

• KEY TERMS AND CONCEPTS

• UPDATE ON THE INTERAGENCY VISITOR USE MANAGEMENT COUNCIL (THE COUNCIL)

• RECOMMENDATIONS ON CAPACITY LEGAL REQUIREMENTS

• OVERVIEW OF VISITOR USE MANAGEMENT PLANS

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Visitor Use Management

• Sustain resource conditions and visitor experiences

• Variety of strategies and tools– Education– Site management– Regulation– Enforcement– Rationing/allocation

Process for managing all characteristics of visitor use and settings

Visitor Capacity

• Subcomponent of visitor use management

• Maximum amounts and types of visitor use that an area can accommodate

• while sustaining desired resource conditions and visitor experiences

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Proactively planning for visitor use maximizes the ability of agencies to encourage access and protect resources and values

Importance of Visitor Use Management

THE IMPORTANCE OF AND CHALLENGES WITH VISITOR USE MANAGEMENT AND VISITOR CAPACITY

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Inconsistent and inadequate implementation of VUM and capacity methodologies across the agencies:

• Not meeting agencies’ missions

• Reduced accountability

• Confusion in the field

• Inability to demonstrate success

• Litigation

THE IMPORTANCE OF AND CHALLENGES WITH VISITOR USE MANAGEMENT AND VISITOR CAPACITY

The Challenge of Implementation

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THE INTERAGENCY VISITOR USE MANAGEMENT COUNCIL

Mission:Provide guidance on long-term visitor use management policies and give direction on the most pressing needs by building technical competencies and improving interagency coordination.

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• Consistent guidance across agencies

• Professional and scientific approach to managing visitor use

• Increased communication and collaboration

• Cost savings and improved efficiency

• More defensible decision-making

THE INTERAGENCY VISITOR USE MANAGEMENT COUNCIL (IVUMC)

Expected Outcomes

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1. Establish guidance directives

2. Develop tools

3. Conduct training

4. Communicate effectively

5. Build institutional capacity

THE INTERAGENCY VISITOR USE MANAGEMENT COUNCIL (IVUMC)

Work Plan

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• Developing consistent terminology and a framework for agency decision-making processes -- on review in 2013

• Integrating guidance into on-going projects

• Developing separate “how-to” guidebooks for:

— the visitor use management framework

— visitor capacity

— visitor capacity for wild and scenic rivers

— indicators and thresholds

THE INTERAGENCY VISITOR USE MANAGEMENT COUNCIL (IVUMC)

Highlights for 2012 - 2013

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• Preparing a clearinghouse of visitor use management information -- available on a council website in 2013

• Prepared a communications plan and organized an outreach team

• Recruited over 20 volunteers to support the council’s work

• Coordinating with the Federal Interagency Council on Outdoor Recreation

• Coordinating with related agency programs and councils

THE INTERAGENCY VISITOR USE MANAGEMENT COUNCIL (IVUMC)

Highlights for 2012 – 2013 (Continued)

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• Shift focus from narrow concept of visitor capacity to the broader concept of visitor use management

• Key terms are consistently defined across agencies

• Presents a visitor use management framework to be integrated into agency decision making processes -- using a sliding scale approach

• Specific guidance for applicable legal requirements re: capacity

• Wild and Scenic Rivers

• NPS General Management Plans

• National Scenic and National Historic Trails (under development)

THE INTERAGENCY VISITOR USE MANAGEMENT COUNCIL (IVUMC)

Council Position Paper

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• Comprehensive River Management Plans must include visitor capacities

• Maximum number of people that can be received without adversely impacting outstandingly remarkable values

• Must manage use within the capacities

• Management decisions in the plan

Ongoing projects: Merced River, Snake River, Virgin River

THE INTERAGENCY VISITOR USE MANAGEMENT COUNCIL (IVUMC)

Specific Direction for Wild and Scenic Rivers

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Acknowledge the adaptive nature & describe adjustment process

THE INTERAGENCY VISITOR USE MANAGEMENT COUNCIL (IVUMC)

Specific Direction for Wild and Scenic Rivers

Near/Above Capacity

High Investment/ Rigor

Below Capacity

Low Investment/Rigor

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A Comprehensive Plan must provide for the acquisition, management, development, and use of the trail, including but not limited to, the following items:(1) Specific objectives and practices to be observed in

the management of the trail, including the identification of all significant natural, historical, and cultural resources to be preserved..., details of any anticipated cooperative agreements..., and an identified carrying capacity of the trail and a plan for its implementation;

(2) An acquisition or protection plan..., along with detailed explanation of anticipated necessary cooperative agreements for any lands not to be acquired; and

(3) General and site-specific development plans including anticipated costs.

THE INTERAGENCY VISITOR USE MANAGEMENT COUNCIL (IVUMC)

Direction for National Scenic and Historic Trails

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QUESTIONS?